Massena man fined $750 for striking his then-girlfriend on two occasions

MASSENA - A Massena man with a long history of alcohol-related domestic dispute arrests was ordered to pay $750 in fines and surcharges after two misdemeanor third-degree assault charges were reduced to second-degree harassment violations in a plea bargain agreement with the district attorneys office.

Acting Massena Village Justice James M. Crandall fined Terry L. Crump, 41, of 543 South Main St., Massena, $250 and ordered him to pay a $125 surcharge for each conviction. Mr. Crandall also signed an order of protection directing Crump to have no contact with Joleen Coffey.

The court also placed Crump under a one-year conditional discharge with stipulations he not abuse alcohol, use or possess illicit substances, commit no further offenses and engage in no physical altercations.

Village police had charged Crump with third-degree assault at 5:50 p.m. Oct. 17 following an investigation into a domestic dispute.

Police said they responded to a disturbance complaint and learned Crump had thrown a small clock that struck Ms. Coffey in the head, leaving her with injuries to her forehead, nose and under her right eye. Police said Ms. Coffey refused medical attention and refused to sign a complaint or answer questions for the domestic incident report.

But police officers said Crump admitted throwing the clock at his girlfriend when he was being processed at the police station. I didnt even hit her. I just threw that clock at her, he reportedly responded during the processing procedure.

Crump had also been charged with third-degree assault at 5:10 p.m. Sept. 22 following another domestic dispute. An allegedly intoxicated Crump reportedly threw Ms. Coffey on the kitchen floor and kicked her in the mouth. Ms. Coffey suffered a cut lip in that incident, police said.

In other court action before Judge Crandall:

■ Shawn M. Cordwell, 37, of 25 Williams St., Massena, was fined $500 and a $205 surcharge for a third-degree attempted assault conviction. He was also placed under a one-year conditional discharge with stipulations that he commit no further offenses, engage in no assaultive behavior, not abuse alcohol and not use or possess any illicit substances. The court also signed a one-year order of protection directing Cordwell to have no contact with his ex-wife, Kelly (Wood) Cordwell.

Village police had charged Cordwell with third-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing and fourth-degree criminal mischief - preventing an emergency call stemming from an investigation into a July 23 domestic dispute with his then-wife.

Court documents indicate Ms. Cordwell returned home from work and expressed anger that her husband was intoxicated. A verbal argument ensued and then reportedly turned physical after Mr. Cordwell allegedly threw a bag of hot dog rolls at his wife. Ms. Cordwell, in her statement to police, said her husband attacked her when she was leaving the residence.

The court had committed to sentence Cordwell to probation for one year at the time the attempted assault plea was entered, but defense attorney Denice Goodrich pointed out the probation departments pre-sentence investigation report revealed the department didnt feel Cordwell needed supervision.

Mr. Crandall said the commitment to one year probation was a worst case scenario sentence. Well go with the conditional discharge, but there will be stipulations. This isnt the first time out with problems with this marriage, he said.

He had been charged with second-degree criminal contempt after he allegedly violated a St. Lawrence County Family Court order of protection issued Aug. 14 directing him to have no contact with Sasha M. Renterria or the child they have in common.

Derushia allegedly posted a comment on Renterrias Facebook page on Aug. 27 and again on Sept. 2.

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